Wearing Dependent Operation of Wearable Device

ABSTRACT

A wearable device that attaches to a body part of a user via an attachment member operates in at least a connected and a disconnected state. One or more sensors located in the wearable device and/or the attachment member detect the user&#39;s body part when present. Such detection may only be performed when the attachment member is in a connected configuration and may be used to switch the wearable device between the connected and disconnected states. In this way, the wearable device operates in the connected state when worn by a user and in the disconnected state when not worn by the user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to wearable devices, and morespecifically to changing operation of a wearable device when worn,versus when not worn.

BACKGROUND

Wearable devices, such as heart rate or other fitness monitors, may beoperable in connected and disconnected states. The connected state maybe for operation when the wearable device is worn by a user. Similarly,the disconnected state may be for operation when the wearable device isnot worn by a user. The disconnected state may permit download ordisplay of data, user input and the like, but may not provide activemonitoring functions that are provided while being worn, as one example.

In the connected state, a wearable device such as heart rate monitorbased on photoplethysmographic sensors or electrocardiographic sensorsmay be operable to detect and monitor the user's heart rate and/orsimilar operations that require the user to be wearing the wearabledevice. In the disconnected state, such a wearable device may beconfigured by the user and/or perform other operations that do notrequire the user to be wearing the wearable device.

In order for such a wearable device to operate properly in either theconnected or disconnected state, the wearable device may need to beaware which state it should be operating in. This may require thewearable device to be aware or sense whether or not the user iscurrently wearing the wearable device. In some cases, a user may enterinput (such as via a touch screen, one or more buttons, and/or one ormore other input/output mechanisms) to indicate to the wearable devicewhether the user is currently wearing the wearable device or not.However, requiring the user to enter input to change the state of thewearable device may be inconvenient and/or burdensome.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure discloses systems, apparatuses, and methods foroperating a wearable device dependent on whether or not the wearabledevice is worn. A wearable device that attaches to a body part of a uservia an attachment member may operate in at least a connected and adisconnected state. One or more sensors located in the wearable deviceand/or the attachment member may detect when the device is attached toor in a close proximity of an object. One or more sensors located in thewearable device and/or the attachment member may detect that the objectattached to is the user's body part when present. Such combined/doubledetection may be used, in some cases with other data, to switch thewearable device between the connected and disconnected states.

Additionally, the attachment member may have a connected configurationwhere the attachment member attaches the wearable device to the user'sbody part and a disconnected configuration where the attachment membermay not attach the wearable device to the user's body part. In someimplementations, the configuration of the attachment member may bedetected and the sensor may determine whether or not the user's bodypart is detected when the attachment member transitions from thedisconnected to the connected configuration in order to switch the stateof the wearable device from disconnected to connected. Similarly, if thewearable device is operating in the connected state and the attachmentmember transitions from the connected configuration to the disconnectedconfiguration, the wearable device may switch to the disconnected state.

In various cases, determination that the attachment member hastransitioned between the connected and disconnected configurations maybe performed based on measured conductance between two or more contactslocated in the wearable device and/or the attachment member that areconductively connected in the connected configuration and notconductively connected in the disconnected configuration. In othercases, the attachment member or the wearable device may include aproximity sensor which may be utilized to determine when the device andthe attachment member have transitioned between connected anddisconnected configurations. In still other cases, the attachment membermay include multiple portions that are coupleable to each otherutilizing two or more magnetic elements and a hall effect sensor may beutilized to determine when the magnetic elements are attracting eachother, and thus coupling the portions in the connected configuration. Instill other cases, the attachment member may include a single portionthat may be stretched in response to applied force and multiplecapacitive elements that are relatively closer to each other when theattachment member is unstretched and further from each other when theattachment member is stretched, thus altering the capacitance betweenthe capacitive elements. As such, the attachment member may be in theconnected or disconnected configuration when unstretched and the exactconfiguration that the attachment member is in may be the reverse of theconfiguration the attachment member was in before the attachment memberwas last stretched.

In various implementations, the wearable device may authenticate theuser while operating in the connected state. In such cases, the wearabledevice may determine that the user is no longer authenticated whenswitching to the disconnected state.

In one or more implementations, a system for operating a wearable devicedependent on whether or not the wearable device is worn may include awearable device that operates in at least a connected and a disconnectedstate; at least one attachment member that attaches the wearable deviceto at least one body part of at least one user; and at least one sensorthat detects the at least one body part of the at least one user. Thewearable device may switch from the disconnected state to the connectedstate based at least on detection of the at least one body part of theat least one user.

In some implementations, a wearable device may include at least oneprocessing unit that operates in at least a connected and a disconnectedstate; at least one attachment member that attaches the at least oneprocessing unit to at least one body part of at least one user; and atleast one sensor that detects the at least one body part of the at leastone user. The at least one processing unit may switch from thedisconnected state to the connected state based at least on detection ofthe at least one body part of the at least one user.

In various implementations, a method for operating a wearable devicedependent on whether or not the wearable device is worn may include if awearable device is operating in a disconnected state, determining toswitch to a connected state by: detecting that at least one attachmentmember that attaches the wearable device to at least one body part of atleast one user has been transitioned from a disconnected configurationto a connected configuration and upon detecting that the at least oneattachment member has been transitioned from the disconnectedconfiguration to the connected configuration, detecting the at least onebody part of the at least one user utilizing at least one sensor.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are for purposes of example andexplanation and do not necessarily limit the present disclosure. Theaccompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a partof the specification, illustrate subject matter of the disclosure.Together, the descriptions and the drawings serve to explain theprinciples of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a system for operating a wearable devicedependent on whether or not the wearable device is worn.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating the relationships of componentsof a first embodiment of a wearable device that operates dependent onwhether or not the wearable device is worn.

FIG. 2B illustrates the first embodiment of a wearable device of FIG. 2Awith the attachment member in a connected configuration.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating the relationships of componentsof a second embodiment of a wearable device that operates dependent onwhether or not the wearable device is worn.

FIG. 3B illustrates the second embodiment of a wearable device of FIG.3A with the attachment member in a connected configuration.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating the relationships of componentsof a third embodiment of a wearable device that operates dependent onwhether or not the wearable device is worn.

FIG. 4B illustrates the third embodiment of a wearable device of FIG. 4Awith the attachment member in a stretched position.

FIG. 5A is a block diagram illustrating the relationships of componentsof a fourth embodiment of a wearable device that operates dependent onwhether or not the wearable device is worn.

FIG. 5B illustrates the fourth embodiment of a wearable device of FIG.5A with the attachment member in a connected configuration

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an example method for operating awearable device dependent on whether or not the wearable device is worn.This method may be performed by the system of FIG. 1 and/or the wearabledevices of FIGS. 2A-5B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description that follows includes sample systems, methods, andcomputer program products that embody various elements of the presentdisclosure. However, it should be understood that the describeddisclosure may be practiced in a variety of forms in addition to thosedescribed herein.

The present disclosure discloses systems, apparatuses, and methods foroperating a wearable device dependent on whether or not the wearabledevice is worn. A wearable device (such as a heart rate monitor, bloodpressure monitor, fitness monitor, or other wearable device) thatattaches to a body part of a user (such as a bicep, an arm, a wrist, aneck, a leg, a torso, and so on) via an attachment member (such as astrap, band, or other attachment member) may operate in at least aconnected and a disconnected state. One or more sensors (such as one ormore photoplethysmographic sensors, sensorselectrocardiographic sensors,galvanic skin conduction sensors, and so on) located in the wearabledevice and/or the attachment member may detect the user's body part whenpresent, or may detect that a band or other attachment member is closedor otherwise placed in a connected state. Such detection may be used, insome cases with other data, to switch the wearable device between theconnected and disconnected states. In this way, the wearable device mayoperate in the connected state when worn by a user and in thedisconnected state when not worn by the user.

Additionally, the attachment member may have a connected configurationwhere the attachment member attaches the wearable device to the user'sbody part and a disconnected configuration where the attachment membermay not attach the wearable device to the user's body part. In someimplementations, the configuration of the attachment member may bedetected and/or a sensor may determine whether or not the user's bodypart is detected when the attachment member transitions from thedisconnected to the connected configuration. Similarly, if the wearabledevice is operating in the connected state and the attachment membertransitions from the connected configuration to the disconnectedconfiguration, the wearable device may switch to the disconnected state.In this way, the operational state of the wearable device may bedependent on whether or not the wearable device is worn by the userwhile requiring less frequent detection of the user's body part usingthe sensor(s).

In some such implementations, if the wearable device is operating in theconnected state and the attachment member transitions from the connectedconfiguration to the disconnected configuration, the wearable device maynot immediately switch to the disconnected state. Instead, upon suchtransition, it may determine whether or not the sensor detects theuser's body part. Then, if the user's body part is not detected, thewearable device may switch to the disconnected state. In this way, theuser may be able to transition the attachment member to the disconnectedconfiguration without switching the operational state of the wearabledevice if the user does not remove the wearable device from his or herbody part.

In various cases, determination that the attachment member hastransitioned between the connected and disconnected configurations maybe performed based on measured conductance or current flow between twoor more contacts located in the wearable device and/or the attachmentmember. For example, the attachment member may include multiple portionsthat are coupleable to each other. When these portions are coupled,conductive elements (such as conductive metal elements, conductivecarbon elements, and/or other types of conductive elements) includedwithin the portions, on the portions, forming the portions, or asconnection mechanisms operable to couple the portions (such asconductive wires or traces, conductive coatings, and/or other conductivecomponents) may be positioned relatively near to one another, such thatthe capacitance or conductance between the contacts may be high.However, when these portions are not coupled, the conductive elementsmay not electrically connect the contacts such that the conductancebetween the contacts may be low. Such conductance may be measured by thewearable device and/or wired and/or wirelessly reported to the wearabledevice.

In some cases, the attachment member or the wearable device may includea proximity sensor which may be utilized to determine when the deviceand the attachment member have transitioned between connected anddisconnected configurations.

In some cases, the attachment member may include multiple portions thatare coupleable to each other utilizing two or more magnetic elements. Insuch cases, a Hall effect sensor or similar sensor may be utilized todetermine when the magnetic elements are attracting each other, and thuscoupling the portions in the connected configuration, and/or when theyare not, thus not coupling the portions in the disconnectedconfiguration. Determination of whether the attachment member is in thedisconnected or connected configuration may be based on measurements bythe Hall effect sensor.

In various cases, the attachment member may include a single portionthat may be stretched in response to applied force and return to anoriginal shape when the force is no longer applied such that it can bepositioned onto the user's body part and/or removed from the user's bodypart. The attachment member may include multiple capacitive elementsthat are relatively closer to each other when the attachment member isunstretched and further from each other when the attachment member isstretched, thus altering the capacitance between the capacitiveelements. As such, the attachment member may be in the connected ordisconnected configuration when unstretched and the exact configurationthat the attachment member is in may be the reverse of the configurationthe attachment member was in before the attachment member was laststretched and allowed to return to original shape. Thus, theconfiguration of the attachment member may be transitioned each timethat the capacitance decreases and then increases, corresponding tostretching and returning to the original shape of the attachment member.

Alternatively, in some cases, the configuration of the attachment membermay be determined based on whether or not the sensor detects the bodypart of the user after the capacitance decreases and then increases. Forexample, if capacitance decreases and then increases and the sensor thendoes not detect the user's body part, the attachment member may bedetermined to be in the disconnected configuration. Similarly, ifcapacitance decreases and then increases and the sensor then does detectthe user's body part, the attachment member may be determined to be inthe connected configuration.

In various implementations, the wearable device may authenticate theuser while operating in the connected state. Such authentication mayinclude receiving one or more biometrics (such as one or morefingerprints received via a touch sensor, photoplethysmographicinformation received via a photoplethysmographic sensor,electrocardiographic (ECG) information received via ECG electrodes,and/or other such biometrics), user identifiers, passwords, personalidentification numbers, or other such authentication mechanisms receivedvia one or more input/output components. In such cases where thewearable device has authenticated the user while operating in theconnected state, the wearable device may determine that the user is nolonger authenticated when switching to the disconnected state. In thisway, the user's authentication may not continue when the wearable deviceis no longer subject to the user's immediate control, i.e. is no longerworn by the user.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a system 100 for operating a wearabledevice 103 dependent on whether or not the wearable device is worn. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the wearable device is a heart rate monitorincluding a touch screen display 104 that is wearable by a user byconnecting an attachment member strap 102 to the user's bicep 101. Thewearable device may operate in a connected state when attached to theuser's bicep and in a disconnected state when detached from the user'sbicep.

However, it is understood that this is an example and is not intended tobe limiting. In various implementations, the wearable device 103 may beany kind of wearable device that attaches to one or more body parts of auser via one or more attachment members 102.

The wearable device 103 may include one or more components that are notshown. Such components may include one or more processing units, one ormore sensors, one or more input/output components, and one or morenon-transitory storage media (which may take the form of, but is notlimited to, a magnetic storage medium; optical storage medium;magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory; random access memory;erasable programmable memory; flash memory; and so on). The processingunit may execute instructions stored in the non-transitory storagemedium to perform one or more wearable device functions. Such functionsmay include operating in a connected or disconnected state, switchingbetween states, determining when a sensor detects a user's body part,determining whether an attachment member is in a connected ordisconnected configuration, receiving user input, authenticating a user,and/or other such operations.

The wearable device may be one of any of a variety of devices. Forexample, the wearable device may be a health monitor, exercise or otheractivity monitor, device capable of telling time, device capable ofmeasuring a biometric parameter of a wearer or user, and so on. Thedevice may encircle a portion of a user's body, or may have a strap orband that encircles a part of a user's body. The device may be worndirectly by the user, for example as a pair of glasses. The device maybe adjacent to or touching a portion of a user's body when worn.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating the relationships of componentsof a first embodiment of a wearable device 203 that operates dependenton whether or not the wearable device is worn. In this embodiment, thewearable device includes a processing unit 210, a non-transitory storagemedium 211, an input/output component 220 (which may be one or more ofany kind of input output component such as a touch sensor, a touchscreen, one or more buttons, a keyboard, a biometric sensor, a display,a speaker, a microphone, and so on), one or more sensors 212 fordetecting a user's body part (such as one or more photoplethysmographicsensors, proximity sensors, or electrical contacts), and first andsecond contacts 213 and 214. Also in this embodiment, an attachmentmember for attaching the wearable device to a user's body part mayinclude a first portion 202A and a second portion 202B, conductiveelements 215 and 216, and a connection mechanism including a conductivebuckle prong 217, a buckle frame 218, and conductive hole 219.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the first and second portions 202A and 202Bof the attachment member may be in a disconnected configuration. FIG. 2Billustrates the first embodiment of a wearable device of FIG. 2A withthe attachment member in a connected configuration. As illustrated inFIGS. 2A and 2B, the first portion 215 may be coupled to the secondportion 216 by inserting the second portion into the buckle frame 218and inserting the conductive buckle prong 217 into the conductive hole219. This may result in the connected configuration shown in FIG. 2B.Similarly, the first portion may be uncoupled from the second portion byremoving the conductive buckle prong from the conductive hole andremoving the second portion from the buckle frame. This may result inthe disconnected configuration shown in FIG. 2A.

As the conductive element 215 is conductively connected to the firstcontact 213 and the buckle prong 217 and the conductive element 216 isconductively connected to the second contact 214 and the conductive hole219, the first and second contacts may be conductively connected (viathe conductor elements conductively coupled via the conductive buckleprong and the conductive hole) when the first and second portions are inthe connected configuration and conductively disconnected when the firstand second portions are in the disconnected configuration. Thus, theconfiguration of the first and second portions of the attachment membermay be determined by monitoring the conductance between the first andsecond contacts.

The wearable device 203 may operate in at least either the connected ordisconnected state. When the wearable device is in the disconnectedstate and determines that the first and second portions 202A and 202B ofthe attachment member transition from the disconnected configuration tothe connected configuration, the wearable device may determine whetheror not the sensor 212 detects the user's body part. If so, the wearabledevice may be currently worn and may switch to the connected state. Ifnot, the wearable device may remain in the disconnected state (though insome cases the sensor may periodically attempt to detect the user's bodypart and the wearable device may switch to the connected state if theuser's body part is detected). Similarly, when the wearable device is inthe connected state and determines that the first and second portionstransition from the connected configuration to the disconnectedconfiguration, the wearable device may switch to the disconnected state(though in some cases the wearable device may first determine that thesensor does not detect the user's body part after the transition beforeswitching operational states, periodically monitoring the sensor in somecases if the sensor does detect the user's body part after thetransition).

The wearable device may authenticate the user while operating in theconnected state. Such authentication may include receiving one or morebiometrics, user identifiers, passwords, personal identificationnumbers, or other such authentication mechanisms received via theinput/output component 220. In such cases where the wearable device hasauthenticated the user while operating in the connected state, thewearable device may determine that the user is no longer authenticatedwhen switching to the disconnected state.

Conductive elements 215 and 216 are shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B as one ormore wires positioned inside the first and second portions 202A and202B. However, it is understood that this is an example and that variousimplementations are possible without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure. In various implementations, the conductive elementsmay be any kind of conductive material (such as conductive metal,conductive carbon, and so on) formed in wires or traces within or on thefirst and/or second portion, formed as coatings on one or more surfacesof the first and/or second portion, and/or other such conductivematerial arrangements that are operable to conductively connect thefirst and second contacts 213 and 214 when the first and second portionsare connected. For example, in some cases the first and second portionsmay be formed of conductive material and may thus be the conductiveelements.

Further, although the sensor 212 and the first and second contacts 213and 214 are shown as positioned within the wearable device 203, it isunderstood that this is an example. In one or more implementations, oneor more such components may be located in the attachment member.Additionally, though the wearable device is described as monitoring theconductance between the first and second contacts and whether or not thesensor detects the user's body part, it is understood that in variousimplementations the attachment member may perform one or more of thesefunctions and report to the wearable device through one or more wired orwireless communication connections. In some implementations, one or moreof the first and second contacts may be electrically isolated from thewearable device.

Although the attachment member is shown and described above as includingfirst and second portions 202A and 202B that are coupleable utilizing abuckle configuration connection mechanism, it is understood that this isan example. In various implementations, the attachment member mayinclude any number of portions that are coupleable with or withoutconnection mechanisms. For example, in one or more implementations theattachment member may include a single portion with one or more endswith one or more insertion tabs that are insertable into apertures inthe wearable device to place the attachment member into a connectedconfiguration. Such an insertion tab may be conductive and mayconductively connect first and second contacts positioned within theaperture.

Further, although the conductive buckle prong 217 and the conductivehole 219 of the connection mechanism are shown and described above asaiding in conductively connecting the first and second contacts 213 and214, it is understood that this is an example. In some cases theconductive elements 215 and 216 may conductively connect directly in theconnected configuration (such as where the first portion 202A has aconductive under side coating that overlaps a conductive top sidecoating on the second portion 202B when the two portions are coupled)and one or more connection mechanisms may physically couple the firstand second portions. Other configurations of components are possible andcontemplated.

Moreover, although the connection mechanism is shown and described aboveas forming a buckle configuration including a conductive buckle prong217, a buckle frame 218, and conductive hole 219, it is understood thatthis is an example. In various implementations, any kind of connectionmechanism such as a magnetic connection mechanism, a snap connectionmechanism, and/or any other kind of mechanism operable to couple thefirst and second portions 202A and 202B.

Additionally, though this implementation is shown and described above asmonitoring the conductance between first and second contacts 213 and214, it is understood that this is an example. In various cases, theconductance between any number of different contacts may be monitoredwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example,the first and second contacts 213 and 214 may be embedded in the sensor212 to measure the galvanic skin conductance between these contacts whenthe device is attached to a body part, thus eliminating the need for theconductive elements 215, 216, 217, 218, and 219.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating the relationships of componentsof a second embodiment of a wearable device 303 that operates dependenton whether or not the wearable device is worn. Similar to the firstembodiment discussed with respect to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the wearabledevice 303 may include one or more processing units 310, non-transitorystorage media 311, sensors 312, and input/output components 320 and theattachment member may include first and second portions 302A and 303Bthat are coupleable (shown coupled in a connected configuration in FIG.3B and uncoupled in a disconnected configuration in FIG. 3A).

However, unlike the first embodiment discussed with respect to FIGS. 2Aand 2B, the wearable device 303 may not include first and secondcontacts and the first and second portions 302A and 302B of theattachment member may not include conductive elements. In this secondembodiment, the attachment member may include a connection mechanismformed by first and second magnetic elements 321 and 322, located in thefirst and second portions respectively. When the first and secondportions are brought together, the first and second magnetic elementsmay attract each other, coupling the first and second portions totransition to the connected configuration shown in FIG. 3B. Conversely,when the first and second portions are in the connected configurationand are separated, the attraction between the first and second magneticelements may be broken and may no longer attract each other, uncouplingthe first and second portions to transition to the disconnectedconfiguration shown in FIG. 3A.

The attachment member may also include a hall effect sensor 323 or othersensor operable to detect the magnetic field of the first and/or secondmagnetic elements 321 and 322 and communicably connected to theprocessing unit 310. As such, by measuring the differences in themagnetic field, the processing unit may be able to determine whether ornot the first and second magnetic elements are attracting each other andthus whether or not the attachment member is in the connectedconfiguration or the disconnected configuration.

Although the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is illustratedand described above as including a particular configuration ofparticular components, it is understood that this is an example. Invarious implementations, any number of magnetic elements, hall effectsensors or other sensors (located in the first and/or second portions302A and 302B and/or the wearable device 303, and/or other componentsmay be utilized without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating the relationships of componentsof a third embodiment of a wearable device 403 that operates dependenton whether or not the wearable device is worn. Similar to the firstembodiment discussed with respect to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the wearabledevice 403 may include one or more processing units 410, non-transitorystorage media 411, sensors 412, and input/output components 420.

However, unlike the first embodiment discussed with respect to FIGS. 2Aand 2B, the wearable device 403 may not include first and secondcontacts and the attachment member 402 may not include conductiveelements. In this second embodiment, the attachment member may be asingle portion that may be stretched in response to applied force (asshown in FIG. 4B and return to an original shape (as shown in FIG. 4A)when the force is no longer applied such that it can be positioned ontothe user's body part and/or removed from the user's body part

The attachment member 402 may include first and second capacitiveelements 430 and 431 that are communicably connected to the processingunit 410 and are relatively closer to each other when the attachmentmember is unstretched (FIG. 4A) and further from each other when theattachment member is stretched (FIG. 4B), thus altering the capacitancebetween the capacitive elements. As such, the attachment member may bein the connected or disconnected configuration when unstretched and theexact configuration that the attachment member is in may be the reverseof the configuration the attachment member was in before the attachmentmember was last stretched and allowed to return to original shape. Thus,the configuration of the attachment member may be transitioned each timethat the capacitance decreases and then increases, corresponding tostretching and returning to the original shape of the attachment member.

Alternatively, in some cases, the configuration of the attachment member402 may be determined based on whether or not the sensor 412 detects thebody part of the user after the capacitance decreases and thenincreases. For example, if capacitance decreases and then increases andthe sensor then does not detect the user's body part, the attachmentmember may be determined to be in the disconnected configuration.Similarly, if capacitance decreases and then increases and the sensorthen does detect the user's body part, the attachment member may bedetermined to be in the connected configuration.

Although the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is illustratedand described above as including a particular configuration ofparticular components, it is understood that this is an example. Invarious implementations, any number of capacitive elements located atvarious positions in the attachment member 402 and/or the wearabledevice 403 may be utilized without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 5A is a block diagram illustrating the relationships of componentsof a fourth embodiment of a wearable device 503 that operates dependenton whether or not the wearable device is worn. Similar to the firstembodiment discussed with respect to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the wearabledevice 503 may include one or more processing units 510, non-transitorystorage media 511, sensors 512, and input/output components 520. Inaddition, the wearable device or the attachment member may include aproximity sensor 540.

However, unlike the first three embodiments discussed with respect toFIGS. 2A-4B, the wearable device 503 may not include first and secondcontacts and the attachment member 502A and 502B may not includeconductive elements.

In the fourth embodiment, instead of measuring conductance between thefirst and second contacts 213 and 214, either through the first andsecond parts 202A and 202B of FIG. 2A-2B or directly through the skin ofthe user, a proximity sensor embedded in the wearable device or in thefirst or second parts 502A and 502B can be used to detect the connectedand disconnected configurations of the device and the attachment member.When the proximity sensor detects proximity to an object this may beequivalent to detecting the connected configuration and when it does notdetect proximity to an object this may be equivalent to detecting thedisconnected configuration. The proximity sensor may be used tosubstitute the connected or unconnected configuration detection based onconductance with a detection based solely on the proximity sensor.

Alternatively, in some cases, the connected or unconnected configurationof the attachment member 502A-502B may be determined based on whether ornot the sensor 512 detects the body part of the user. For example, ifthe proximity sensor 540 detects proximity to an object and the bodysensor 512 then does not detect the user's body part, the attachmentmember may be determined to be in the disconnected configuration.Similarly, if the proximity sensor 540 detects proximity to an objectand the body sensor 512 then does detect the user's body part 550 asillustrated in FIG. 5B, the attachment member may be determined to be inthe connected configuration.

Although the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is illustratedand described above as including a particular configuration ofparticular components, it is understood that this is an example. Invarious implementations, the detection based on proximity sensor may beused to re-enforce rather than substitute the detection based onconductance. In various implementations, any number of proximity sensorslocated at various positions in the attachment member 502A-502B and/orthe wearable device 503 may be utilized without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an example method for operating awearable device dependent on whether or not the wearable device is worn.This method may be performed by the system 101 of FIG. 1 and/or thewearable devices 203-503 of FIGS. 2A-5B.

The flow begins at block 601 and proceeds to block 602 where a wearabledevice may operate in the disconnected state. The flow then proceeds toblock 603 where it may be determined whether or not an attachment memberthat is operable to attach the wearable device to a body part of a usertransitions from a disconnected configuration to a connectedconfiguration. If so, the flow proceeds to block 604. Otherwise, theflow returns to block 602 where the wearable device may continue tooperate in the disconnected state

At block 604, after it is determined that the attachment member hastransitioned from the disconnected configuration to the connectedconfiguration, it may be determined whether or not a sensor detects thebody part of the user. If so, the flow proceeds to block 605. Otherwise,the flow returns to block 602 where the wearable device may continue tooperate in the disconnected state

At block 605, after it is determined that the sensor detects the bodypart of the user, the wearable device may switch to the connected state.The flow then proceeds to block 606 where the wearable device operatesin the connected state. Such operation in the connected state mayinclude authentication of the user. The flow may then proceed to block607.

At block 607, it may be determined whether or not the attachment membertransitions from the connected configuration to the disconnectedconfiguration. If so, the flow proceeds to block 608. Otherwise, theflow returns to block 606 where the wearable device continues to operatein the connected state.

At block 608, after it is determined that the attachment member hastransitioned from the connected configuration to the disconnectedconfiguration, the wearable device switches to the disconnected state.In cases where operation in the connected state included authenticationof the user, switching to the disconnected state may determine that theuser is no longer authenticated. The flow then returns to block 602where the wearable device operates in the disconnected state.

Although the example method 600 is illustrated and described asincluding particular operations performed in a particular order, it isunderstood that this is an example. In various implementations, variousorders and arrangements of the same, similar, and/or differentoperations may be performed without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

By way of a first example, the example method 600 is illustrated anddescribed as switching the wearable device to the disconnected statefrom the connected state if the attachment member transitions from theconnected configuration to the disconnected configuration. However, invarious implementations when the attachment member transitions from theconnected configuration to the disconnected configuration it may firstbe determined that the sensor does not detect the user's body partbefore transitioning to the disconnected state. In this way, thewearable device may not switch to the disconnected state if the userswitches the attachment member to the disconnected state but does notremove the wearable device from the user's body part. In such cases, thesensor may be monitored periodically until the sensor no longer detectsthe user's body part.

By way of a second example, the example method 600 is illustrated anddescribed as beginning with the wearable device operating in thedisconnected state and switching to the connected state when thewearable device is attached to a user's body part. However, in variousimplementations the method may begin with the wearable device operatingin the connected state and switching to the disconnected state when thewearable device is detached from a user's body part.

By way of a third example, the example method 600 is illustrated anddescribed as switching to the connected state from the disconnectedstate if the attachment member transitions from the disconnectedconfiguration to the connected configuration. However, in variousimplementations the sensor may detect the user's body part while thewearable device is operating in the disconnected state. In such anexample, the wearable device may then switch to the connected state. Insome cases, the attachment member may not transition between connectedand disconnected configurations.

By way of a fourth example, the example method 600 is illustrated anddescribed as switching to the disconnected state from the connectedstate if the attachment member transitions from the connectedconfiguration to the disconnected configuration. However, in variousimplementations the sensor may no longer detect the user's body partwhile the wearable device is operating in the connected state. In suchan example, the wearable device may then switch to the disconnectedstate.

As described above and illustrated in the accompanying figures, thepresent disclosure describes systems, apparatuses, and methods foroperating a wearable device dependent on whether or not the wearabledevice is worn. A wearable device that attaches to a body part of a uservia an attachment member may operate in at least a connected and adisconnected state. One or more sensors located in the wearable deviceand/or the attachment member may detect the user's body part whenpresent. Such detection may only be performed when the attachment memberis in a connected configuration and may be used to switch the wearabledevice between the connected and disconnected states. In this way, thewearable device may operate in the connected state when worn by a userand in the disconnected state when not worn by the user.

In the present disclosure, the methods disclosed may be implemented assets of instructions or software readable by a device. Further, it isunderstood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methodsdisclosed are examples of sample approaches. In other embodiments, thespecific order or hierarchy of steps in the method can be rearrangedwhile remaining within the disclosed subject matter. The accompanyingmethod claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order,and are not necessarily meant to be limited to the specific order orhierarchy presented.

The described disclosure may be provided as a computer program product,or software, that may include a non-transitory machine-readable mediumhaving stored thereon instructions, which may be used to program acomputer system (or other electronic devices) to perform a processaccording to the present disclosure. A non-transitory machine-readablemedium includes any mechanism for storing information in a form (e.g.,software, processing application) readable by a machine (e.g., acomputer). The non-transitory machine-readable medium may take the formof, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage medium (e.g., floppydiskette, video cassette, and so on); optical storage medium (e.g.,CD-ROM); magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory (ROM); randomaccess memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM andEEPROM); flash memory; and so on.

It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendantadvantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it willbe apparent that various changes may be made in the form, constructionand arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosedsubject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages.The form described is merely explanatory, and it is the intention of thefollowing claims to encompass and include such changes.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference tovarious embodiments, it will be understood that these embodiments areillustrative and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited tothem. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements arepossible. More generally, embodiments in accordance with the presentdisclosure have been described in the context or particular embodiments.Functionality may be separated or combined in blocks differently invarious embodiments of the disclosure or described with differentterminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, andimprovements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined inthe claims that follow.

1-21. (canceled)
 22. A wearable electronic device, comprising: ahousing; a band configured to attach the housing to a user; an elementoperative to determine that the band is connected; and a processing unitdisposed within the housing that is operative to: use the element todetermine that the band is connected; authenticate the user as aparticular user; and allow the user to remain authenticated as theparticular user until the element indicates that the band isdisconnected.
 23. The wearable electronic device of claim 22, whereinthe processing unit biometrically authenticates the user as theparticular user.
 24. The wearable electronic device of claim 22, whereinthe processing unit requires re-authentication of the user as theparticular user after the band is disconnected and reconnected.
 25. Thewearable electronic device of claim 22, wherein: the band comprises afirst band portion and a second band portion; and the element isoperative to determine that the band is connected when a firstconductive element coupled to the first band portion is electricallyconnected to a second conductive element coupled to the second bandportion.
 26. The wearable electronic device of claim 22, wherein: theband comprises a first capacitive element and a second capacitiveelement; and the element is operative to determine that the band isconnected using a capacitance between the first capacitive element andthe second capacitive element.
 27. The wearable electronic device ofclaim 22, wherein: a magnetic element is positioned on the band; a Halleffect sensor is positioned on the band; and the element is operative todetermine that the band is connected using a capacitance between themagnetic element and the Hall effect sensor.
 28. The wearable electronicdevice of claim 22, wherein: the band comprises a first magnetic elementand a second magnetic element; and the element is operative to determinethat the band is connected using a magnetic field between the firstmagnetic element and the second magnetic element.
 29. A wearableelectronic device, comprising: a housing configured to be worn by auser; a sensor operative to detect a body part of the user; and aprocessing unit disposed within the housing that is operative to: usethe sensor to determine that the housing is adjacent the body part;authenticate the user as a particular user; and allow the user to remainauthenticated as the particular user until the sensor indicates that thehousing is moved away from the body part.
 30. The wearable electronicdevice of claim 29, wherein the processing unit requiresre-authentication of the user as the particular user after the housingis moved away from the body part and is then moved adjacent the bodypart again.
 31. The wearable electronic device of claim 29, wherein thesensor is a proximity sensor.
 32. The wearable electronic device ofclaim 29, wherein the sensor is a photoplethysmographic sensor.
 33. Thewearable electronic device of claim 29, wherein the sensor is aconductive element.
 34. The wearable electronic device of claim 29,wherein the sensor is a capacitive element.
 35. The wearable electronicdevice of claim 29, wherein the processing unit authenticates the useras the particular user using a password.
 36. A wearable electronicdevice, comprising: a housing; a band configured to attach the housingto a user; an element operative to detect that the wearable electronicdevice is worn by the user; and a processing unit disposed within thehousing that is operative to: authenticate the user as a particular userwhile the wearable electronic device is worn by the user; and allow theuser to remain authenticated as the particular user until the elementindicates that the wearable electronic device is no longer worn.
 37. Thewearable electronic device of claim 36, wherein the element comprises aphotoplethysmographic sensor.
 38. The wearable electronic device ofclaim 37, wherein the processing unit operates the photoplethysmographicsensor more frequently when the wearable electronic device is worn thanwhen the wearable electronic device is unworn.
 39. The wearableelectronic device of claim 36, wherein: the wearable electronic devicefurther includes an input component; and the processing unitauthenticates the user as the particular user using input received fromthe input component.
 40. The wearable electronic device of claim 36,wherein the processing unit authenticates the user as the particularuser using an identification number.
 41. The wearable electronic deviceof claim 36, wherein the processing unit requires re-authentication ofthe user as the particular user after the wearable electronic device isno longer worn and is then worn again.